William Byrd: Consort Songs [Import]

William [Composer] Byrd (Composer), Fretwork (Performer), Emma Kirkby (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Fretwork, Emma Kirkby
• Composer: William [Composer] Byrd
• Audio CD (February 8, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B0006FGHT2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,852 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mesmerizing, if not totally seductive, February 17, 2005

By 

John K. Gayley (Physically in Wilmette, IL; Mentally in Siena, Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: William Byrd: Consort Songs (Audio CD)

I heard this CD Playing in a music store this afternoon, and try as I might, I was not able to manage to escape without buying it. In fact, I stayed long past my welcome to listen to it all.

I have a genetic aversion to soprano vocals in classical music, for which the only known cure is Emma Kirkby. Her delivery is so simple, so clean, so pure, and it so perfectly matches Byrd's music that you'd think he knew she was coming and wrote the music for her 350 years in advance "just in case". This is a splendid collection. And there is no praise too high for Fretwork. A tremendous band. Normally I might say that 70 minutes of this at one sitting might be considered overexposure, but the music is so....soothing that I can see having this on a great deal. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful, July 27, 2008

By 

Frank G. Feldman (Fair Lawn, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Byrd: Consort Songs (Audio CD)

Absolutely wonderful. I've listened to this wonderful recording again and again and again and it continues to remain fresh. Along with Barbara Bonney's "Fairest Isle", a real desert island disc.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicate and delightful, May 7, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: William Byrd: Consort Songs (Audio CD)

Few recent CDs have been so successful at capturing the lighthearted sound that Byrd's music can call for. What a pleasure. Emma Kirkby is possibly the best singer of this genre of our time and she does not disappoint.